NEW DELHI: After surprise visits by an NGO revealed that stocks of foodgrains for people without ration cards were over at many school centres, concerned groups and individuals have written to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for continuing the service till the pandemic gets over.
According to Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan (DRRAA), nearly 85% of the centres visited had no ration stock.
In the letter, the chief minister has been urged to revise the non-public distribution scheme, restock ration at the designated schools and open community kitchens.
A DRRAA official said most centres visited on Monday had run out of stocks and were turning away people. “It is crucial that Delhi government immediately take steps to restock ration and do away with the predetermined cap of 20 lakh people and provide ration on a monthly basis,” said an official. “This will also be in keeping with the judgment of the Supreme Court in the migrant workers’ case and with a recent order of Delhi High Court.”
The letter stated that in the last week of May, Delhi government had formulated a policy to provide ration to people without ration cards. “It appears that in the past few days, many designated centres have run out of ration as confirmed via ground visits carried out by Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan. As per information collated by DRRAA, on June 30, 2021 and July 1, 2021, more than 85% of the schools checked were found to have exhausted the ration stocks and were, therefore, not supplying ration to people,” it stated.
It is crucial that Delhi government immediately take steps to continue with the scheme for the next few months, not just as a one-time relief, the letter stated. “Delay in revising the plan and stocking the schools with ration are exacerbating the distress and hunger among the vulnerable population of Delhi.”
Despite repeated attempts by TOI, Delhi government officials refused to comment.
